Look at the record: Al-Qaeda regrouping, warlords running Afghanistan, Iraq sliding into lawlessness, no sign of those weapons of mass destruction, and the gutting of homeland security funding. Isn’t this what any sane person would call a failed national security policy?

It’s also time to challenge Terry McAuliffe, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, who earlier this year urged that “the war…not be on the ballot in 2004.” But why should Dems cede national security when even Karl Rove has all but admitted that Bush is vulnerable on the issue? It’s also time to take on the corporate wing of the party, the Democratic Leadership Council–or, as Jesse Jackson used to call it, the Democratic Leisure Class.

Message to Al From and his timid DLC: The Republican-lite Democratic Leadership Council’s hard to beat something with nothing. Unless the Dems stand up and lay out a real agenda for the country, with some passion, principles and vision, they can forget about electability.